SCBA Survival Course

(Wednesday, April 24)

This course is tailored to all levels of structural fire experience, rookie to veteran. It is designed to enhance confidence in yourself and your SCBA, and it will challenge you both physicallly and mentally. The class has been taught regularly throughout Colorado.

The first part of the course is an interactive lecture, reviewing potential hazards a firefighter may encounter at a structure fire. The rest is spent in the maze, allowing students to challenge themselves in teams of two, assisted by an instructor, through various obstacles inluding confined space, a spongy collapsible floor, a simulated ceiling collapse, stairs, rafters, windows, ladders, and a variety of simulated door openings. All participants will be critiqued once they complete the maze.

Participants are asked to bring full bunker gear, SCBA, and a spare air bottle, if possible. We will have some gear available on-site for those who can not do so. Limited to 25 attendees.

About the faculty: The course will take place at the North Washington Fire Protection District. All lead instructors are Colorado State Certified Fire Instructors and NWFPD firefighters, and have taught the course numerous times. Casey Anderson has ten years of firefighting experience and serves in the NWFPD's training division. He is a Colorado State Proctor and Instructor, and has traveled throughout the state to teach the SCBA course. Christy Huwa has nine years of fire service experience and is part of the department's public education team, as well as an infection control officer. Bret Williamson has 11 years in the fire service and is a Colorado State Proctor and Instructor, and is part of the department's training division.